Nothing is ever easy with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, which was evident once again on Sunday in Charlotte.
The Bucs blew a golden opportunity to take one final step toward clinching a division title by giving up what should have been another get-right game. Sunday's loss to the Panthers wasn't an epic collapse like we saw against the Falcons ten days ago, but it stung just as much, as it ceded control of the NFC South over to Carolina.
With just two games left, the Bucs no long hold the lead in the division but they do still control their own destinty.
The loss bumps the Bucs back but doesn't knock them off course. Things might seem grim right now, and conversations about whether Tampa Bay even deserves to make the playoffs are as valid as they've ever been, but their path toward clinching still remains surprisingly clear.
Buccaneers can still clinch the NFC South even after losing to Panthers in Week 16
Coming into Sunday all the Bucs needed to do was win their next two games and they'd clinch the NFC South. That was the easy route, and part of a larger plan that could still play out. While beating Carolina and Miami would have meant clinching early and allowing for players to rest in Week 18, the real path was simply winning two of the remaining three games.
Buccaneers clinch the NFC South if:
- Bucs beat the Dolphins in Week 17
- Bucs beat the Panthers (at home) in Week 18
Only one of those wins needed to come against Carolina, it was just a matter of which one it would be. With the loss, it turns out that will have to be in Week 18 assuming the Bucs can take care of business next Sunday against the Dolphins.
The silver lining here is that even with the loss and by sitting in second place, the Bucs still control their own destiny. A win by the Panthers next week cannot clinch the division for Carolina, as that Week 18 game carries immense mathematical weight.
Something that helps Tampa Bay out is Carolina's game next Sunday, which is against Seattle. The Seahawks are hot off a thrilling win that propelled them to the No. 1 seed, a position they won't be looking to lose against the Panthers.
A loss by Carolina doesn't help the Bucs clinch next week, but it does mean Tampa Bay can survive a loss to Miami and still be in the mix to win the division in Week 18.
Of course, that's about the lamest way anyone can hope to win a fifth straight title, and would be a situation where the Bucs back into the playoffs as cannon fodder rather than enter from a position of strength.
Still, the point is the season isn't over yet, even if it sort of feels like it.